Pretuning and automatic station selecting device



Och 1954 .1. M. GARDNER PRETUNING AND AUTOMATIC STATION SELECTING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 12, 1950 INVENTOR.

JAMES M. GARDNER :Bluaow ATTGR/YEZ Oct. 12, 1954' J. M. GARDNER 2,691,725

FRETUNING AND AUTOMATIC STATION SELECTING DEVICE Filed May 12, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JAMES M. GARDNER BY 1 I Oct. 12, 1954 J. M. GARDNER 2,691,725

PRETUNING AND AUTOMATIC STATION SELECTING DEVICE Filed May 12, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 2!" w@ @w w 2] INVENTOR.

JAMES M GARDNER @ZLZMM A T'TORNEY.

Patented Oct. 12, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRETUNING AND AUTOMATIC STATION SELECTING DEVICE 3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in radio and television apparatus and more particularly to means for a pretuning automatic station selector.

It is an object of this invention to provide a radio or television apparatus with timing and switch elements employed in combination with a station selector device, whereby a number of stations may be selected and through the functioning of the timing mechanism and switch elements, each station will be received in order, and after a predetermined time interval.

It is another object of this invention to provide means acting automatically whereby after an operator has selected in order various radio stations, the reception from each station may be received at predetermined time intervals, and without additional station selection on the part of the operator.

The prime purpose of this invention is to provide the usual radio or television panel with a plurality of station selectors, each selector comprising a number of various wave bands adjusted for radio or television reception from sending stations, whereby an operator may select one each of the stations on each of the station selectors and through the medium of a timing device and a new and improved relay delay switch, enable an operator to enjoy the benefits for a time interval from each of the stations in order Without further manipulation for tuning the stations on the part of the operator. More specifically stated, the operator may enjoy the reception from preselected stations at set time intervals, through automatic breaking and contacting of a plurality of switches acting upon the different station selectors all regulated through time intervals as determined by a timing mechanism.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device for automatically closing a plurality of control circuits one at a time at pre-selected times, which is simple in construction and easy to adjust so that the proper desired sequence of operations will be produced, whereby the invention as a whole may be manufactured at a relatively economical cost.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, all of which will be apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists in a novel construction and relation of parts and electrical connections, a preferred embodiment of which is shown in the accompanying drawings, and the novel features of which are pointed out in the claims appended to and forming a part of the specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the invention as a whole.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the selector switch as used in the invention.

Figure 3 is a rear View of the selector switch of Figure 2 taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the solenoid used for actuating a variable gang condenser,

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 with the solenoid and gang condenser in a different position.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the relay-delay switch in retracted position, or in position where change in stations are to take place.

Figure 7 is a plan View similar to Figure 6 at a point where there is a pause to actuate the station selector to home position.

Figure 8 is the same switch shown in Figure 6 and is the normal position when reception from a station is being received, and

Figure 9 is a view of the panel showing the various stations arranged in order, around a plurality of station selectors.

Referring in detail to the drawings and, for the present, to Figure I particularly, the invention comprises station selectors designated herein by numerals Ill, 59', and Hi", multiple switches designated by numerals H, H, and H", each set on one of the selectors Hi, It, and 10 respectively. Each multiple switch is connected to one of the solenoids represented by the numerals i2, i2 and i2" with the switch H connected to solenoid 12, the switch l! to the solenoid i2 and the switch H" to the solenoid it". A second group of solenoids designated by the numerals l3, l3 and it" are connected to the selectors it, [0' and iii", those solenoids in the second group are used for changing the radio condensers or stations. A time clock shown as it, is adaptable for being set at stated time intervals, and is electrically connected to the solenoid i5, which in turn actuates a two-step relaydelay switch IS. A wellknown form of transformer not shown can be utilized and connected in the circuit in the usual manner, by leads designated as l! and [8.

Figure 9 designates a part of the panel id of a receiver, and is employed for mounting the selectors previously referred to by the numerals it, It and It, and provided with station indicators 2t, 2t and 26 and having a plurality of radio sending station identifications 2i, 2i and 2 I and designated by the station letters.

The selector switch 22, as illustrated in Figure 2, includes a rectangular shaft 23 mounted in the panel I9, and has a knob 24 secured to one end thereof, the shaft 23 provides support for a collar 25, and a fiat station selector disk 26. A coiled leaf spring 21 is secured at one end to a pin 28 secured adjacent the periphery of the disk 26, and the other end to the shaft 23 by means of a fastening element 29. Keyed to shaft 23 is a ratchet wheel provided with teeth 3I around its periphery, and providing spaces32 for temporary bearing surfaces for engaging the screw 33 which is secured to the rod 34. The engaging screw 33 engaging the ratchet wheel-36 in the spaces 32, to temporarily hold the switch in contact at the station selected. Extending outward from the periphery at the wheel 36, is a finger 35 which acts as a step for theselector switch 22. In operation, when a program has run its set time, the solenoid I2 will actuate the rod 31 longitudinally, thereby releasing the contact 33 from spaces 32, whereby the spring 21 releases the finger 35 to a home position. At the commencement of station selection, the finger 35 can be reset again. A support 38 may be secured in the chassis 39, and provides a means for retaining one end 40 of spring 4| having the other end 42 secured to the bracket 43, having an aperture for supporting one end 44 of rod 34. Incidently, the free end of rod 31 is fastened to one end of bracket 43 by any suitable fastening elements 45. The spring 4I provides tension for holding 33 against the ratchet wheel 36.

Referring to Figure 4, the condensers shown as 46 are actuated through the medium of a gear 41 keyed to shaft 48 upon which the condensers 46 are mounted. A ratchet segment 49 and provided with an arm 58, meshes with the teeth on the gear 41. The arm 50 is rotatably mounted on a pin which has one end fastened in the bracket 52, which in turn is secured to the rod 53. Depending from the free end of rod 53 is a curved finger 54, the end of which engages the free end of the bracket 52. Extending from one end of the rod 53, is a longitudinal portion 55 secured to the rod 56 which forms an operating arm having its free end movable in and actuated by a solenoid I3. The rod 53 is provided with a shoulder 51 for retaining one end of the spring 58, the other end of the spring 58 butts against condenser support 59. The back plate 66 of the condenser 46, is held firmly by a bracket 6| having one end secured to the condenser 46 by a fastening element 62 and the other end by a support 63. In operation, when the solenoid I3 is actuated, the rod 56 is pulled inwardly in to the'solenoid I3, and the finger 54 butting against bracket 52 pushes the extension 50 rotatably around the pin 5| causing the segment 49 to turn the gear 41, causing the condenser to move from one position shown in Figure 4 to another position shown in Figure 5, against the tension of the spring 58.

The amount of movement of the condenser is controlled by a conventional push button selector mechanism (not shown) which has been pre-set for the desired station.

The relay delay switch shown in Figure 6 includes a support plate 64 having a plate 65 apertured at 66 for supporting a shaft 61 which rotatably mounts an arm 68. One end of the arm 68 provides means for holding an end 69 of a spring I6, the other end of the spring being secured in an adjustment II, mounted on the plate 64. The other end of the arm 68 is pivoted on an arm I2 which is actuated by the solenoid I5. Thev arm I2 has a contact member I3 extending from its free end, for the purpose of breaking or making contact between the electrical contacts I4 and I5 which are mounted on blades I6 and 11 respectively. One of the blades .16 designated by the numeral I8, has a single contact I9 extending outward from its lower end and may be forced against a contact depending from one of the bladesII designated by the numeral 8I.

The position of the relay delay switch in Figure 6 is retracted and is in the position when one station has completed its set time program. The solenoid I5 when actuated provides a means whereby the member I3 contacts the blade I8 as illustrated in Figure 7, separating contacts I4 and making contact with I9 and 80. Attention is directed to the fact that contacts I5 are still engaged. This position in Figure '7 is the pause period. It is very slight and scarcely perceptible and just between the automatic change over from one station selector to-the other. Almost immediately, the contacts I5 are separated as in Figure 8, and reception from the next station selector commences and the previous selection is in home position.

During reception of a station and between the half-hour intervals, the relay delay switch remains in its normal position as shown in Figure 8 with contacts I4 and I5 open. Upon the clock mechanism reaching the half hour position, solenoid I5 is energized and-rod I3 isretracted causing contacts I4 and I5 to close. 010- sure of contact I5 does not cause any'reaction as a consequence of its closure due to' the fact that no electrical path is completed by said closure since contacts 86-18 are open circuited and the electrical path from II (Figure 1) to blade I6I8 and to 80 is incomplete. But when contacts I4 engage, there is a closed electrical path (Figure 1) from IT to inner blade I6 to contacts I4 to outer blade I6 to switch III to solenoid I3 and back to the negative end I8 of the power supply, thereby actuating solenoid I3 to drive the tuning mechanism. At this point, the time clock breaks contact and solenoid I5 is deenergized, causing rod I3 to be pushed forward by the swiveling action of 68 due to spring I0. In the first stage of the forward motion of I3 as shown in Figure 7, rod I3 drives I8 forward, opening contacts I4 and thereby deenergizing solenoid 13. Rod 13 continues to push I8 forward untilcontact I9 comes into contact with 80 thereby completing an electrical path (Figure 1) from t I I through blade I6I8, contacts I980, contacts I5 (which are still in engagement), inner blade 11, switch II, solenoid I2, and back to the negative end I8 of the power supply. The completion of this electrical circuit energized solenoid I2 which actuates ratchet 30 to return to home position. The completion of this electrical path is only momentary since it occurs during the forward motion of rod I3 and occurs at a position intermediate the retracted and extended positions of rod I3. As rod I3 continues to move forward, blade I8, riding on rod I3, also moves forward pushing outer blade 11 forward. thereby disengaging contacts I5 and breaking the energizing circuit for solenoid I2. Rod I3 continues forward to its furthermost extended position as shown in Figure 8, and remains in that position for the next half-hour.

It will be understood that the number of station selectors for which the apparatus is: designed may be changed within widelimits, as-well as other details of construction, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by letters patent of the United States is:

l. A device of the character described comprising, a plurality of selective tuning members, each tuning member equipped with a variable condenser and a solenoid for mechanically actuating said condenser, switches rotatably mounted in pairs, each pair of said switches connected electrically to the solenoids forming a part of said tuning members, each pair of said switches equipped with a solenoid for mechanically actuating said pair of switches, a relay delay switch equipped with a solenoid for mechanically actuating said relay delay switch, said relay delay switch electrically connected to one oi said rotatably mounted pair of switches, each pair of said switches connected electrically to each or said other pair of switches, a time clock, said time clock electrically connected to said relay delay solenoid ior periodically actuating said relay delay solenoid.

2. A device of the character described comprising, a time clock, a relay delay switch, said relay delay switch electrically connected to said time clock, a solenoid, said solenoid mechanically connected. to said relay delay switch for actuating said relay delay switch, a plurality of switches rotatably mounted in pairs, a plurality of solenoids, each pair of said switches equipped with one of said solenoids and mechanically connected thereto, one of said pair of switches electrically connected to said relay delay switch and also electrically connected to each of the other of said switches, a plurality of selected tuning members consisting of, a variable condenser and solenoid for mechanically actuating said variable condenser, the solenoid of each of said tuning members electrically connected to each of said pair of rotatably mounted switches.

3. A device of the character described comprising, a time clock, a relay delay mechanism consisting of a plurality of electric contacts and a solenoid for mechanically actuating said mechanism, said time clock electrically connected to the solenoid in said relay delay mechanism, a plurality of switch mechanisms, said switch mechanisms consisting of a pair of switches and a solenoid for mechanically actuating the switches, one ofsaid switch mechanisms electrically connected to said relay delay mechanism and to each of said other switch mechanisms, a plurality of selective tuning members consisting of a variable condenser and a solenoid for mechanically actuating said variable condenser, the solenoid in each of said selective tuning members connected to each of said switch mechanisms.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,051,438 Dwyer Aug. 18, 1936 2,079,445 Glass May 4, 1937 2,332,767 Wagner Oct. 26, 1943 2,346,623 Stewart et a1 Apr. 11, 1944 2,488,207 Lea Nov. 15, 1949 2,563,250 Lacks Aug. '7, 1951 2,574,097 Foster Nov. 6, 1951 2,582,039 Jones Jan. 8, 1952 

